ASTM D4318-00
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the liquid limit, plastic limit, and the plasticity index of soils as defined in Section 3 on Terminology.
1.2 Two methods for preparing test specimens are provided as follows: Wet preparation method, as described in 10.1. Dry preparation method, as described in 10.2. The method to be used shall be specified by the requesting authority. If no method is specified, use the wet preparation method.
1.2.1 The liquid and plastic limits of many soils that have been allowed to dry before testing may be considerably different from values obtained on non-dried samples. If the liquid and plastic limits of soils are used to correlate or estimate the engineering behavior of soils in their natural moist state, samples should not be permitted to dry before testing unless data on dried samples are specifically desired.
1.3 Two methods for determining the liquid limit are provided as follows: Method A, Multipoint test as described in Sections 11 and 12. Method B, One-point test as described in Sections 13 and 14. The method to be used shall be specified by the requesting authority. If no method is specified, use Method A.
1.3.1 The multipoint liquid limit method is generally more precise than the one-point method. It is recommended that the multipoint method be used in cases where test results may be subject to dispute, or where greater precision is required.
1.3.2 Because the one-point method requires the operator to judge when the test specimen is approximately at its liquid limit, it is particularly not recommended for use by inexperienced operators.
1.3.3 The correlation on which the calculations of the one-point method are based may not be valid for certain soils, such as organic soils or soils from a marine environment. It is strongly recommended that the liquid limit of these soils be determined by the multipoint method.
1.4 The plastic limit test is performed on material prepared for the liquid limit test.
1.5 The liquid limit and plastic limit of soils (along with the shrinkage limit) are often collectively referred to as the Atterberg limits. These limits distinguished the boundaries of the several consistency states of plastic soils.
1.6 The composition and concentration of soluble salts in a soil affect the values of the liquid and plastic limits as well as the water content values of soils (see Method D2216). Special consideration should therefore be given to soils from a marine environment or other sources where high soluble salt concentrations may be present. The degree to which the salts present in these soils are diluted or concentrated must be given careful consideration.
1.7 The methods described herein are performed only on that portion of a soil that passes the 425-um (No. 40) sieve. Therefore, the relative contribution of this portion of the soil to the properties of the sample as a whole must be considered when using these tests to evaluate properties of a soil.
1.8 The values stated in acceptable metric units are to be regarded as the standard, except as noted below. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.8.1 The standard units for the resilience tester covered in Annex A1 are inch-pound, not metric. The metric values given are for information only.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation:D 4318–00
Standard Test Methods for
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Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4318; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope * Atterberg limits. These limits distinguished the boundaries of
the several consistency states of plastic soils.
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the liquid
1.6 The composition and concentration of soluble salts in a
limit, plastic limit, and the plasticity index of soils as defined
soil affect the values of the liquid and plastic limits as well as
in Section 3 on Terminology.
the water content values of soils (see Method D 2216). Special
1.2 Two methods for preparing test specimens are provided
consideration should therefore be given to soils from a marine
as follows: Wet preparation method, as described in 10.1. Dry
environment or other sources where high soluble salt concen-
preparation method, as described in 10.2. The method to be
trations may be present. The degree to which the salts present
used shall be specified by the requesting authority. If no
in these soils are diluted or concentrated must be given careful
method is specified, use the wet preparation method.
consideration.
1.2.1 The liquid and plastic limits of many soils that have
1.7 The methods described herein are performed only on
been allowed to dry before testing may be considerably
that portion of a soil that passes the 425-µm (No. 40) sieve.
different from values obtained on non-dried samples. If the
Therefore, the relative contribution of this portion of the soil to
liquid and plastic limits of soils are used to correlate or
the properties of the sample as a whole must be considered
estimate the engineering behavior of soils in their natural moist
when using these tests to evaluate properties of a soil.
state, samples should not be permitted to dry before testing
1.8 The values stated in acceptable metric units are to be
unless data on dried samples are specifically desired.
regarded as the standard, except as noted below. The values
1.3 Two methods for determining the liquid limit are pro-
given in parentheses are for information only.
vided as follows: Method A, Multipoint test as described in
1.8.1 The standard units for the resilience tester covered in
Sections 11 and 12. Method B, One-point test as described in
AnnexA1 are inch-pound, not metric. The metric values given
Sections 13 and 14. The method to be used shall be specified
are for information only.
by the requesting authority. If no method is specified, use
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Method A.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.3.1 The multipoint liquid limit method is generally more
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
precise than the one-point method. It is recommended that the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
multipoint method be used in cases where test results may be
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
subject to dispute, or where greater precision is required.
1.3.2 Because the one-point method requires the operator to
2. Referenced Documents
judge when the test specimen is approximately at its liquid
2.1 ASTM Standards:
limit, it is particularly not recommended for use by inexperi-
C 702 Practice for Reducing Field Samples ofAggregate to
enced operators.
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Testing Size
1.3.3 The correlation on which the calculations of the
3
D 75 Practice for Sampling Aggregates
one-point method are based may not be valid for certain soils,
D 420 Guide to Site Characterization for Engineering, De-
such as organic soils or soils from a marine environment. It is
4
sign, and Construction Purposes
strongly recommended that the liquid limit of these soils be
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
determined by the multipoint method.
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Fluids
1.4 The plastic limit test is performed on material prepared
D 1241 Specification for Materials for Soil-Aggregate Sub-
for the liquid limit test.
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base, Base, and Surface Courses
1.5 The liquid limit and plastic limit of soils (along with the
D 2216 TestMethodforLaboratoryDeterminationofWater
shrinkage limit) are often collectively referred to as the
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(Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
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This standard is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.03 on Texture, Plasticity
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and Density Characteristics of Soils. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
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Current edition approved June 10,
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